Very low food security among children is associated with daily energy intake and diet quality

Abstract

Very low food security among children (VLFSC) is the most severe form of food insecurity children face in the U.S. VLFSC has increased markedly in recent years, but little is known about its nutritional consequences. We examined the differences in daily energy intake and diet quality of VLFSC compared to children in low or very low food‐secure households using the USDA household food security survey module. We used data collected from single 24‐hour dietary recalls from 137 children aged 9–15 in the greater Columbia, SC area. We tested for the association of VLFSC status with daily energy intake and diet quality using linear regression and controlling for sociodemographic covariates. VLFSC consumed 322 kcal (p ≤ 0.05) less per day than other food‐insecure children. VLFSC consumed less carbohydrates (β= −59.0 grams, p ≤ 0.01), added sugar (β= −32.6 grams, p ≤ 0.01), vitamin B‐6 (β= −0.43 milligrams, p ≤ 0.01), magnesium (β= −42.56 milligrams, p ≤ 0.05), and 9 other nutrients (p<0.11). Our findings suggest that VLFSC are consuming less food, resulting in indications both of poorer (i.e., consumption of nutrients) and better (i.e., consumption of added sugar) dietary quality. Funded by USDA‐ERS‐RIDGE.